Belgian coalition talks collapse

Talks on the formation of a new Belgian government collapsed yesterday after the nationalist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) pulled out of negotiations.

Bart De Wever, leader of the N-VA, which was the clear winner in the Dutch-speaking north of the country in the 13 June election, said yesterday (4 October) that there was a ‘lack of will’ from the Francophone parties to support plans to devolve powers from the federal government.

In the absence of a deal on a new government, the Belgian parliament is considering giving temporary powers to Yves Leterme, the caretaker prime minister, and his cabinet to deal with economic issues that will have to be resolved in the coming weeks. Belgian officials said it was likely that Leterme and his cabinet would stay on for the rest of Belgium’s presidency of the EU’s Council of Ministers, which finishes on 31 December.

Leterme has led a caretaker government since the election but has little to no legislative powers. Top of the to-do list is ensuring the country has a budget for next year, which will have to include deficit-cutting measures.

The N-VA and other parties have said they would support the caretaker government if extra legislative measures were needed on a case-by-case basis.

De Wever pulled out of talks yesterday, accusing Francophone parties of questioning the small amount of progress that had been made in 113 days of negotiations between seven political parties on issues including devolving powers on taxation and resolving the linguistic dispute over the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde electoral district.

Those claims were rebuked by Walloon political leaders, many of whom said they no longer trusted De Wever. They accused him of having an agenda to split the country by destroying any attempt to resolve longstanding political disputes between Dutch-speaking Flanders and Francophone Wallonia.

“After long weeks of negotiations we almost had a deal,” said Laurette Onkelinx from the Parti Socialiste (PS). “What is on the table is a fundamental reform of Belgium and at the last moment Bart De Wever, with tears in his eyes, says ‘no, sorry, but this is not enough’”.

Mediators appointed by King Albert II to lead negotiations were to report back to the monarch today to see whether talks could be revived.

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foreign commentators should take care when commenting on this issue. Bart De Wever has no intention to split the country. The francophone parties are demonizing him because he’s not the person to deceive his flemish voters who granted him 28% of the votes during the last elections.He is committed to have a justified spread of the funding for both linguistic groups based on responsable spending .And not to have minister seats as fast as possible and blanco checks to compensate for irresponsable spending by the francophones while flanders has a balanced budget without deficit.That is where it is all about.

foreign commentators should take care when commenting on this issue. Bart De Wever has no intention to split the country. The francophone parties are demonizing him because he’s not the person to deceive his flemish voters who granted him 28% of the votes during the last elections.He is committed to have a justified spread of the funding for both linguistic groups based on responsable spending .And not to have minister seats as fast as possible and blanco checks to compensate for irresponsable spending by the francophones while flanders has a balanced budget without deficit.That is where it is all about.

foreign commentators should take care when commenting on this issue. Bart De Wever has no intention to split the country. The francophone parties are demonizing him because he’s not the person to deceive his flemish voters who granted him 28% of the votes during the last elections.He is committed to have a justified spread of the funding for both linguistic groups based on responsable spending .And not to have minister seats as fast as possible and blanco checks to compensate for irresponsable spending by the francophones while flanders has a balanced budget without deficit.That is where it is all about.

foreign commentators should take care when commenting on this issue. Bart De Wever has no intention to split the country. The francophone parties are demonizing him because he’s not the person to deceive his flemish voters who granted him 28% of the votes during the last elections.He is committed to have a justified spread of the funding for both linguistic groups based on responsable spending .And not to have minister seats as fast as possible and blanco checks to compensate for irresponsable spending by the francophones while flanders has a balanced budget without deficit.That is where it is all about.

Posted on 10/6/10 | 9:11 AM CET

Marie Bunnot

Flemish Nationalists never look for the values and the future of the country , they are looking only for the advantages and never accept the other .unfortunately they thing that they are on the top of every thing and they are the best in every thing .they and their follower living in the illusion power .fortunately they didn’t lead a country as big as china or india or Brazil or US , we can imagine what they ll do if they have this power .BELGIUM is a small country and the Flemish do what they did imagine if they are a big country like Germany or France or UK .no dout it ll be a catastrophic situation

Posted on 10/6/10 | 4:10 PM CET

Marie Bunnot

Flemish Nationalists never look for the values and the future of the country , they are looking only for the advantages and never accept the other .unfortunately they thing that they are on the top of every thing and they are the best in every thing .they and their follower living in the illusion power .fortunately they didn’t lead a country as big as china or india or Brazil or US , we can imagine what they ll do if they have this power .BELGIUM is a small country and the Flemish do what they did imagine if they are a big country like Germany or France or UK .no dout it ll be a catastrophic situation

Posted on 10/6/10 | 4:10 PM CET

Marie Bunnot

Flemish Nationalists never look for the values and the future of the country , they are looking only for the advantages and never accept the other .unfortunately they thing that they are on the top of every thing and they are the best in every thing .they and their follower living in the illusion power .fortunately they didn’t lead a country as big as china or india or Brazil or US , we can imagine what they ll do if they have this power .BELGIUM is a small country and the Flemish do what they did imagine if they are a big country like Germany or France or UK .no dout it ll be a catastrophic situation

Posted on 10/6/10 | 4:10 PM CET

Marie Bunnot

Flemish Nationalists never look for the values and the future of the country , they are looking only for the advantages and never accept the other .unfortunately they thing that they are on the top of every thing and they are the best in every thing .they and their follower living in the illusion power .fortunately they didn’t lead a country as big as china or india or Brazil or US , we can imagine what they ll do if they have this power .BELGIUM is a small country and the Flemish do what they did imagine if they are a big country like Germany or France or UK .no dout it ll be a catastrophic situation